If you have a Gmail account for your business, you may use it to send faxes. Sending a fax via email is a way to save money if you are operating on a budget, especially if you are just starting out. You do not have to purchase a fax machine or concern yourself with repairs if the machine you are using breaks. There are several online companies that allow you to fax securely and inexpensively using email accounts such as Gmail.

eFax

eFax lets you to test drive it first in order to see what a faxed document looks like. It allows you to choose your own phone number, has a free trial, and has smartphone support. Navigate to the eFax registration page (see Resources) and register for an account.

Log in to your Gmail account. Click “Compose” to begin a new message.

Write the number you wish to send the fax to in the “To” field followed by efaxsend@.com. For example, type “9999999999@efaxsend.com.” Attach the document you need to fax by clicking “Attach a file.”

Fill in the Subject line. This can be the recipient’s name and company, for example.

Create a cover page by typing a message in the text area. For example, you can write: “For your attention: Total sales report for June.”

Click the “Send” button. You will receive an email confirmation after your fax has been sent.

FAXAGE

FAXAGE online email faxing service is inexpensive, and small businesses may send 600 to 2,000 faxes a month. Navigate to the FAXAGE registration page (see Resources) and register for an account.

Log in to your Gmail account and begin a new message. Fill in the Subject field. Enter the phone number of the recipient followed by "@faxage.com" in the “To:” field.

Attach the file you wish to fax. Fill in the contents of the text area with comments that will serve as your cover page.

Click the “Send” button to send your fax. You will be sent an email confirmation.

MyFax

MyFax allows you to do a test drive to see what the fax would look like, has a 30-day trial for free, and will also work on a smartphone. Navigate to the MyFax registration page (see Resources) and register for an account.

Log in to your Gmail account and click "Compose." Fill in the “To” field with the phone number you are sending the fax to, followed by “@myfax.com.”

Type the fax header in the Subject field. Any contents you write in the text area will be treated as cover page comments.

Click "Attach a File," navigate to the file to attach and select "Open."

Click “Send.” You will be sent an email confirming successful delivery.

About the Author

Kim Lewis is a professional programmer and web developer. She has been a technical writer for more than 10 years and has written articles for businesses and the federal government. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science, and occasionally teaches classes on how to program for the Internet.